Full circle

As I've mentioned before, I have worked for a large insurance company now for 11 1/2 years, on the claims side of things. About eight years ago, the large company bought a smaller company. (Well, one in particular - they're always selling and buying small companies within the larger corporate umbrella.) Very shortly afterwards, we were informed that all west coast claims handling operations were going to go under the management of this smaller company. There were all sorts of rumors going around to explain why it felt like the tail was wagging the dog, but whatever the reasoning was, it was something of a hostile takeover.

After all the layoffs and reorganization, we then shifted over to their computer system. It was DOS based and archaic and we hated it. The rollout seven years ago was sudden and chaotic, and the training provided wasn't particularly helpful when it came to actually working the claims. It was a very unhappy time and the whole transition appeared to me to be not well thought out.

A couple years ago the parent company announced that they wanted to work towards having a seamless claims operation, including all companies using the same system. That was easier said than done because there were many challenges in getting all of the platforms involved to talk to each other. The west coast was to pilot the roll out of the new system. Surprise! The new system is the same one we used seven years ago (with some updates, of course). I had actually predicted this would come about, but I really thought it would happen sooner than it did.

So the rollout was scheduled to happen on Friday, April 18th. Fine, since that's not a particularly busy day - and I don't work on Fridays. But as it turned out, there were set backs, and instead, the rollout happened the following Monday. Now why they couldn't just push it back another day or two so it wouldn't happen on the busiest day of the week, I just don't understand. When I left work for the week last Tuesday, we still had no idea what the new workflow was going to be. So Monday I came in to work and had to find out just how I was supposed to do my job that day. Although it was a familiar system to me, it was still a chaotic rollout. Then, to top it off, the system crashed at 10:30am due to server overload. Really? No one anticipated how many of us would be on the system? Lovely. So then we had nearly three hours that we could do next to nothing (except go to lunch, and stand around and complain). Just what I love. Knowing the work is piling up and having no way to do it. Tuesday was a slight improvement, the system only slowed down for about 30 mintues, but no crashes. However, we seemed to be experiencing a huge disconnect when it comes to management all being on the same page as to how they want things handled. No one seemed to be in agreement, which put me in the middle. I love my job, I love my job.

I'm so thankful that I'm only part time, and that I can get all my hours in in two days instead of having to spread it out over five! Hopefully they'll have worked out most of the bugs by Monday. It truly boggles my mind how a large corporation can do these half baked operations. It's times like these that keep me remembering why being a mom is so much more satisfying than trying to climb the corporate ladder and getting all caught up in the politics involved!

Corporate carnage

Well, the news today was bad enough that my friend called me at home. It was actually much worse than I had anticipated. 41 jobs cut in our region. No worker bees, just management. They didn't even get to say goodbye. This is on top of the 240 lay offs that were announced last month for our other local office, which is where I first started my employment with the company.

Since I'm a worker bee, I do still have a job at the moment. My unit was combined with another that has a totally different function, and I have a new manager. Hopefully my duties and hours will remain relatively the same. My old manager is the only one affected that didn't lose her job, but she is no longer a manager now either.

They say the insurance market is soft now. The company had a real push the end of last year to encourage their employees to become customers too (but no discounts offered). I have to say that I'd be pretty mad about moving my business just to turn around and get fired.

In other news, Mom is doing okay. They planned to keep her in ICU until tomorrow to keep her closely monitored. I'm assuming that means she won't be going home tomorrow, but she is hopeful that she will.

One day I'm glad to leave behind

Yesterday was just one of those days. I had my annual review at work, everything is fine - no surprises there. Got a measly raise, but in our current corporate environment, any raise is a good thing. Realistically, I'm still paid quite well for what I do. If this job ceases to exist, I really would not be able to find any other part time work to replace it.

When I got back to my desk, my phone rang. It was Dad. Mom was taken by ambulance to their local hospital that morning. The bug she caught from C last week had turned into pneumonia and there were other things that had caused Dad great concern. As of last night, she is still really sick, but is doing much better. Other issues are being tested and ruled out, so far nothing out of the ordinary. She will probably be there for a couple days though. She doesn't want the girls to see her at the hospital, so I guess a visit will have to wait. It sounds like she is going to be fine, but feel free to remember her in your prayers if you are so inclined.

Back at work, by the afternoon, rumors started flying about reorganization on the regional level. Some changes in management are expected. Big wigs are coming in to town. Last minute conference calls are scheduled and last minute meetings are planned. The highest level of management in this office is not looking like they are having good days. Being part time, I'm feeling very vulnerable because, depending on current leadership, support of having part time employees vary - and I know it was a topic of conversation in a managers meeting not that many months ago. My friend promises to call me if it appears I don't need to return to work next week : ) I'm mostly kidding, but everyone is feeling the tension and uncertainty - particularly management (which, I should clarify, I am not a part of).

I had a horrible migraine and nausea all day at work that just wouldn't respond to any amount of Excedrin Migraine. Miraculously, it lifted within an hour of leaving work! That never happens! Hopefully things will have settled down by the time I return next Monday. I don't think I'm going to call in to find out what happened.

Definitely NOT Putting My Best Foot Forward

For the second time in the last six months, I arrived at work today and realized that I was wearing two different shoes. I guess sensible shoes just all look (and apparently) feel the same at 7am. At least the difference in today's shoes (left) was a little more subtle.

Working Mom

I work part time in the claims end of the insurance industry. I feel very blessed to have this job. Besides the fact that we really need my income and benefits, I enjoy the break. With young children, my world feels so small now. I love still keeping a foot in the adult world, if only for two days a week - which is really all I need to keep my sanity. Personally, I believe I am a better mom because of it. The best thing about working part time is that it allows me to be a hands on mom most of the time! That's the best job of all because I KNOW that I am far more appreciated by my kids than by my employer.

I work two days a week (10 hour days), and at least one of those days it is a real challenge to get out of the house. On a good day, I'm gone before the girls wake up. However, if one or both is up before my departure, then we have waterworks. Not just waterworks, but weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. (C has a real flair for the dramatic.) C is most likely to be up, and makes it the hardest to go - and if M isn't up by then, she certainly will be soon with all the ruckus. "Moooommmmmm, please don't go. I don't want you to work today. Oh, mommmmmmmmm!" Repeat, repeat, repeat....you get the idea. Then we have the endless hugs and kisses and reassurances, and then with a little help from dad, I eventually make it out the door while blowing kisses and waving goodbye as they watch from the window. It's bittersweet, really. It makes me happy that they would rather have me at home, but I feel so bad (for about seven minutes - my commute time) for leaving them.